Valve guards



1955 R. H. BLACKFORD 2,727,531

VALVE GUARDS Filed Aug. 24, 1949 I I N WITNE. SSES United States PatentVALVE GUARDS Application August 24, 1949, Serial No. 112,096 4 Claims.(Cl. 137-516-13) This invention has general reference to check valvesand, more particularly, the species or forms thereof commonly fittedinto compressors, pumps and other pressure fluid cylinders; such valvesbeing capable of operation responsively to suction or pressure pulses inopening and closing the valve ports. 7

Valves of the type referred and, more especially, those of the smallersizes necessarily require very careful fabrication, with a precisionfinish, if .they are to function accurately, and resultantly areexpensive to produce, install, and operate.

A primary object of this invention is to overcome the just noteddisadvantageous features. by providing a valve of the species, abovereferred to, which can be economically produced with preassurance thatit will function accurately as long as it remains in serviceablecondition.

Another object is the provision and method of making a guard for valvesof the above indicated type that is capable of production on a quantitybasis, from predetermined cross-section bar stock, much moreeconomically than heretofore possible.

A further object is the provision of a valve guard as indicated in thepreceding paragraph which not only guides the valve, during opening andclosing, but which likewise serves as a positive lift controlling stop,as well as housing and holding the valve influencing spring. 7

Further objects with ancillary advantages will hereinafter appear or bespecifically noted, and to all of the recited ends, this inventionessentially consists in the combination of elements, arrangement of theparts and features of construction, as well as the method of making thevalve guard, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed in thisspecification and shown by the accompanying sheet of illustrativedrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a typical valve unit assembly embodying theinstant improvements.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane IIII of Fig. 1,and showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view to the preceding, taken as indicatedby the arrows III III in Fig. 1, and with the valve in open position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking upwardly from below the valve guardof this invention.

In describing the form of the invention exemplified by the sheet ofdrawings herewith, specific terms will be employed for the sake ofclarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is notthereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace allequivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the reference character 5,Figs. 2 and 3, designates a fragmentary portion of a compressor cylinderhead or deck that is provided with a plurality of socket borings 6, oneonly being shown, for inset reception of the improved check valve,comprehensively designated 7, in Fig. 1, of this invention. The valve 7conveniently, although not essentially, comprises a seat component 8having flow ports 9 and a central shouldering 10, with a surroundingflange 11, said 2,727,531 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 outer and an innerconcentric valve seating surfaces 12,-

13, respectively, for an annular type valve 14. This valve 14, it willbe observed, cross-sectionallyembodies an arched-ridge 15 intermediateconcentric outer and inner annular seating portions 16, 17, respectivelyfor coaction with the base seats 12, 13, in an obvious manner.

The valve 14 is guided in its movement by a novel form of unit,generally designated 18 in Fig. 4. This unit 18 is preferably made bymachining from square-section bar stock by axial boring to a determinatediameter and extent so that only the diagonally-related angular-cornerportions 19 remain to jointly provide diametrically opposed guide meansfor the valve 14. It is to be particularly noted, at this juncture, thatthe diameter of the boring just referred to and its axial extent is suchas to provide corner portions 19 of a definite length with the innerspacedly confronting arcual or concave faces 20 thereof adapted, attheir free ends to snugly impinge the circumferential surface of thebase shouldering 10 aforesaid. The guide and stop unit 18 is furthermoreaxially bored to a comparatively smaller diameter to provide acylindrical housing 21 for a suitable spring 22 in compression betweenthe inne rend wall 23, of said housing and the inner seating portion 17of the annular valve 14; while the end wall 23 is provided with acentral passage 24 for flow through the valve unit 7 as typicallyindicated by the arrows 25 in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it is thought the merits and advantages of theimproved check valve will be readily appreciated, but it is desired toherein particularly stress the method of making and the novel form ofthe combined valve guide and stop unit 18, that not only efficientlyguides the annular valve 14 during its opening and closing movements,but also functions as a positive lift limiting stop for said valve 14,and which additionally serves as a housing for holding the spring 22 incorrect functional relation with the valve 14. In addition, by provisionof the valve 14 with a relatively large center hole there is provided agreater elfective valve area than would be the case if such hole werenot used; while the holes set up by the spaced portions 19 materiallyaid free flow through the valve as an assembled unit. Anothercharacterizing feature of this invention is the novel method ofproducing the unit 18, preferably, from square section stock, in themanner hereinbefore explained to provide the integral corner arms orguide portions 19, and thereby enabling exceedingly economic productionof what might, obviously, be a diflicult casting operation or anexpensive forging matter.

Finally while there has hereinbefore been set forth that which has beenfound a preferable manner of carrying out the invention, the same is notto be considered in a limitative sense; for instance the cross-sectionof the bar stock may, obviously, be other than square, or polygonal;whereas the proportions of the respective parts can be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a valve assembly and a hollow body member having acylindrical recess therein, said recess being connected to a fluidsupply, said valve assembly comprising a valve seat member carrying asubstantially ring shaped valve seat located in said recess, the centralportion of said seat member being closed to fluid flow,

' said seat having a longitudinally extending concentrically g I 7 3 anda valve guide element having a substantially central axially extendingpassage therethrough, and said valve guide element having a polygonalcross section with substantially" flat longitudinally extending sideWalls forming corners which fit substantially against the inside surfaceof saidrecess, said longitudinally extending side walls of said guideelement having portions intermediate saidcorners which are spaced awayfro'msaid inside surface of said recess whereby fluid passing throughthe valve seat may flow concurrently through said substantially centralpassage and around the fiat longitudinally extending side walls ofsaidguide element. t

2. In combination, a valve assembly and a hollow body member having acylindrical recess therein,'said 'valve assembly comprising a valve seatelement shaped to conform to the shape of said recess, said seat elementhaving an annular 'valve seat thereon, said seat having an openingthrough which the fluid flows, a'valve' ring movable longitudinallytoward and away from said seat to close and open said opening, saidvalve ring being of less diameter than said chamber recess whereby anopening is provided between the' valve ring and the chamber as well asthrough the center of the ring, and a valve guide element in saidrecess, said guide element having a polygonal cross section withsubstantially flat side walls forming corners which fit against theinside surface of said curved bore recess, and corner legs at one end ofsaid guide element embracing said valve seat, said guide element havingan internal shoulder comprising a stop for said valve ring, and alsohaving a substantially central axially arranged passage extending fromsaid shoulder through its other end, whereby fluid from said seat mayflow concurrently through said substantially central passage and aroundsaid side walls.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein the guide element hasanother shoulder of smaller size than said stop shoulder, and wherein aresilient member is provided having one end against said other shoulderand its other end against said valve ring continuously urging said valvering toward said seat.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the chamber port recesshas a round cross section and the valve guide element has a rectangularcross section.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS978,729 Garber Dec. 13, 1910 980,060 Buser Dec. 27, 1910 1,568,195Spreen Jan. 5, 1926 1,674,986 Norwqod June 26, 1928 1,677,357 McGregorJuly 17, 1928 1,677,740 Weatherhead July 28, 1928 1,900,736 RichardsonMar. 7, 1933 1,987,974 Richardson Jan. 15, 1935 2,216,622. Miller Oct.1, 1940 2,239,405 Stenger Apr. 22, 1941 2,364,864 Martin Dec. 12, 19442,536,727 Crawley Jan. 2, 1951 2,588,112 Hanson -1 Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 374,110 Germany 1920 374,657 Germany 1920 482,989 Great Britain1938

